We have had very hot temperatures continue for over two weeks here in the Northern Kanto Plains. To escape from the heat, we headed up to the Tambara Lavender Park in Numata City, Gunma Prefecture.

Tanbara is a ski resort during the winter months, but in the summer it is home to over 50,000 lavender plants, in addition to other flowers including sunflowers, marigolds, lilies, and hydrangeas. The temperatures were around ten degrees cooler than in the plains – roughly 25 degrees Celsius.

It was nice to see the many bees and butterflies flying from flower to flower!

Northern Kanto Plains: 北関東平野    escape from the heat:　暑さから逃れる

headed up to:  へ向かう    sunflower: ひまわり   marigold:  マリーゴールド

 lilies: ユリ   hydrangeas:　アジサイ　　ten degrees cooler: １０度涼しい

flying from flower to flower:　花から花へと飛び交う

A sea of flowers.

Butterfly feeding on lavender.

Sunflower and bee.

Summer cumulonimbus clouds.